Han Kim Signs Beltway Cruiserweight Prospect!

One of the big stories around the area over the last six months has been the reemergence of Northern Virginia as a boxing force along the Beltway. Of course, the two shows at the George Mason University Patriot Center promoted by Keystone Boxing have contributed to that story.

Another big story has been a reemergence within the Virginia story. That part involves former boxer Han "Sugar" Kim. In the twilight of his boxing career, which ended in 2002, Kim started promoting shows in Northern Virginia. This year, Kim has returned with a vengance. He already promoted one successful show in February and has another one coming up on April 15.

Now, Kim is promoting boxers and he recently told me about what I consider to be a major acquisition. Kim has signed Baltimore-based cruiserweight prospect Emmanuel Nwodo to a three-year promotional contract.

Nwodo (18-3, 14 KO's) has been quietly making waves in the cruiserweight division as he is ranked fifth by the USBA and eighth by both the NABO and the NABA. His biggest win was a first-round knockout over former IBF Cruiserweight champion Imamu Mayfield in December of 2004. Nwodo, a native of Enugu, Nigeria, has won his last eight bouts, five by KO.

"He has so much talent that it will be a shame if I don't make him world champion," Kim told me.

Kim added that the IBF/USBA has promised that Nwodo will be ranked even higher in the USBA rankings and he hopes to promote a USBA title bout for Nwodo in the near future. The title as well as the first two spots in the top 10 are vacant as of last month.

Hopefully, another goal will be to have Nwodo fight locally more often. In his 18 bouts, Nwodo, who has trained in the area for at least two years, has only competed in the area once. He scored a fourth round TKO over Willie Herring in September 2004 at Michael's Eighth Avenue in Glen Burnie. His last five bouts and seven of his last eight have been in Philadelphia.

Another one of Kim's boxers, light heavyweight Edward Andre Hempfield of DC, will be on the undercard of the Hasim Rahman-James Toney championship bout in Atlantic City this Saturday. Hempfield (3-2, one KO) will take on undefeated Chuck "The Professor" Mussachio of Wildwood, NJ. Kim says that Victor Davis and former WBC Heavyweight champion Tim Witherspoon will be working Hempfield's corner.